Category: Featured
Sri Lanka to forge ahead despite external pressures: Ravi
Feb 17, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s finances are improving despite global turmoil, Brexit and higher interest rates in the US, backed by a Fitch Ratings outlook upgrade, the finance minister said. “State revenues in 2016 rose to over 13 percent of gross domestic product from around 10 percent and the budget deficit had come […]
‘s NITF gets reinsurance cover for agriculture
Feb 17, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s National Insurance Trust Fund says they have procured a reinsurance program for its agriculture insurance schemes. “This reinsurance programme will provide support to agricultural insurance schemes funded by NITF including the recently launched National Agricultural Loan Protection Scheme,” NITF said in a statement. “The cover has been arranged […]
Google loon may leave Sri Lanka, corruption accusation baseless: Harin
Feb 16, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s controversial Google loon pilot project may be withdrawn from the country as a result of a spectrum issue with the International Telecommunication Union, the telecommunications minister said. Harin Fernando told reporters Thursday that Sri Lanka has so far delayed facilitating pilot tests by allocating the required spectrum of […]
With foreign debt servicing of USD4 bil, cabinet approves sovereign bond
Feb 16, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister says the island’s total domestic and foreign debt service payments for 2017 is estimated to be around 1,480 billion rupees. In a cabinet memorandum Karunanayake said total foreign debt service payments including foreign currency denominated debt amounts to 609.4 billion rupees (4.04 billion dollars) in 2017. […]
Indonesia donates 5,000MT of rice to Sri Lanka
Feb 15, 2017 (LBO) The Indonesian government will donate 5,000 metric tonnes of rice to Sri Lanka following a request of President Maithripala Sirisena through the local ambassador in Jakarta. The consignments to be shipped in a few days are expected to arrive in Colombo in March, the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry said in a statement. […]
Rice millers call for release of govt stock to maintain price control
Feb 14, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Small and Medium Scale Rice Mill Owners’ Association says if they are to sell rice to consumers at a controlled price the government needs to release 67,000 metric tons of paddy in store at the Paddy Marketing board. This request was made at a meeting held with Finance Minister Ravi […]
Sri Lanka puts in place competitive pricing for medium scale solar
Feb 13, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Power Ministry has decided to put in place a competitive pricing mechanism for medium scale solar power generation companies commencing later this week, the minister said. “This is a turning point in the pricing system and the consumers will be the beneficiaries,” Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, minister of power and renewable energy said. […]
Sri Lanka calls tenders for petroleum development in Mannar Basin
Feb 12, 2017 (LBO) – The Sri Lankan government is inviting expressions of interest for partners to undertake the appraisal and development of gas discoveries and prospects in a 2,900-sq km offshore block in the Mannar Basin, a statement said. The block (M2) will be offered for licensing this year, including the Barracuda and Dorado […]
Ravi upset over Central Bank leaks, media portrayal
Feb 09, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister has expressed his concern about the leak of information with regard to closed door meetings at the island’s Central Bank, and media portrayal of it. News from some boards have been leaked and then represented by politicians who have a vested interest in it, his media […]
Fitch affirms Sri Lanka at B+; outlook revised to stable
Feb 09, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Fitch Ratings has affirmed Sri Lanka’s Long-Term Foreign- and Local Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) at ‘B+’ and revised the Outlook to Stable from Negative. The Country Ceiling and issue ratings on Sri Lanka’s senior unsecured foreign- and local-currency bonds are also affirmed at ‘B+’. The Short-Term Foreign- and […]
‘s tourism skills development to start in East
Feb 09, 2017 (LBO) – Under the skills for inclusive growth program Australia will provide around 1.6 billion rupees in aid and technical assistance, to strengthen Sri Lanka’s tourism sector through training. “A profitable and sustainable tourism industry requires more than natural and cultural assets, which Sri Lanka has in abundance, it requires high-level hospitality […]
‘s Bank authorized capital
Feb 09, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet nod has been received to instruct legal draftsman to amend certain sections of People’s Bank Act which seeks to increase the authorized share capital of the Bank and to issue debentures without government guarantee. At the cabinet meeting held yesterday, Public Enterprises Minister Kabir Hashim has submitted the […]